It seems that my life is full of “I Can’ts. I can’t go backpacking with my family. I can’t eat certain foods because they make me ill. I can’t travel easily right now due to food intolerance issues. I can’t function like I want to because of chronic fatigue syndrome. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t. I hate it.

Perhaps you have some “I can’ts” in your life too. They aren’t fun. In fact they are awful.

But God reminds me that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) That doesn’t mean that I will be able to backpack or run races or even function like I want to, but it does mean that what God wants me to do I will be able to do. He will give me the strength to persevere and accomplish what He has planned for me.

I went to a Hopi show at our local museum recently and met my son’s friend Davis there. He is a painter and had several of his paintings displayed. One painting, of a warrior maiden named He’e’e’, spoke to me. The title of the painting is Undaunted.

That is what I need to be. Undaunted by my circumstances. Full of I cans instead of I can’ts.

I can do what God asks me to do. He has allowed the awfulness of chronic fatigue syndrome and food intolerance in my life for a reason and I will do the best to serve Him and accomplish what He wishes for me to accomplish while I’m in this state.